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Social work

Social Work

Welcome

The mission of the CSUN Department of Social Work is to prepare professional social workers to promote the well being of individuals, families and communities in the urban setting. Our mission reflects both the universal values of social work “to promote the well being of individuals, families and communities” while reflecting the unique context of California State University Northridge—an urban setting in the heart of the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County. We offer a unique approach to graduate level social work education because our program specializes in a single concentration: urban family practice. This focus offers students the opportunity to learn strategies for working in any urban environment at the micro (individual/family), mezzo (group/community) and macro (policy/societal) levels.

We are proud to introduce our relatively new program. We graduated our 9th class of 162 students in May 2016. We offer a two-year and a three-year program including online and offsite programs. On behalf of all of us, we thank you for visiting our website and welcome your comments and questions.

Mission Statement and Program Goals

The mission of California State University, Northridge, Department of Social Work, is to prepare professional social workers to promote the well-being of individuals, families and communities in the urban setting.

The Department will teach students research-based knowledge, values and skills to:

Prevent social, emotional and behavioral problems; improve the well being of individuals and families; and support the recovery process.

Develop programs and policies which build on the strengths of urban families.

Empower and be relevant to the needs of the multi-national, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural San Fernando Valley and its surrounding communities.

Featured News

Meet our CSUN MSW Fall 2017 Writing Mentors!

California State University, Northridge, Department of Social Work has been ranked #13 in SR Education Group's 2016 list of Top Graduate Programs! The 2016 Top Graduate Program rankings represent graduate schools and programs all across the nation and are based on student reviews. Making it on this list means you have earned an extremely high satisfaction rating from graduate students. Read more

The faculty of the Social Work Department urges students, faculty, staff, alumni and the wider CSUN community to support victims and their families in the wake of senseless hate crime and to demand social justice in our nation and the world.

The members of California State University, Northridge Department of Social Work offer our sincere condolences to the families, friends, and members of the Orlando community who lost loved ones during Sunday’s shooting. This is but one in a series of acts of hate and terror to have plagued our nation in recent years. It is difficult to comprehend violent acts like this or to fully understand the grief of those who are suffering. What we can do is unite as a community against further divisiveness and stand together against acts of hate and for a vision of a just and whole society.